Introduction: Dental implants are becoming more popular as a treatment for missing teeth. The standard method of providing implants is to place the implant and wait 3 to 6 months for bone to attach to the implant (osseointegration). The mechanism by which osseointegration occurs remains unknown. Understanding this process would undoubtedly lead to the improved success of implants. Objective: We studied the cellular program of osseointegration around two types of stabilized implant materials: titanium and a bioresorbable polymer. Method: The medial surface of the mouse tibia was exposed, and a circumferential defect (1mm) was produced in one cortex of the mid-diaphysis using a high-speed dental drill. We placed either a titanium implant (1 mm diameter, 2 mm length) or a bioresorbable polymer implant ((Biopin), 1 mm diameter, 2.5 mm length) into the defect and verified that the implants were stable. The mice were sacrificed at various time points after surgery. The tissue was decalcified, dehydrated, and embedded in paraffin. After decalcification, the titanium implant was removed while the biopin implant was left in place. The tissue was sectioned (10 microns) and was used for histological (Safranin-O and Trichrome) and histochemical (Alkaline Phosphatase and TRAP) analyses. Results: By day 5 (ntitanium=2, nbiopin=4), new bone was first evident in the marrow cavity with both implants. By day 7 (ntitanium=2, nbiopin=5), new bone formation had increased. By day 10 (ntitanium=2, nbiopin=4), remodeling of the new bone in marrow cavity was occurring. By day 21 (ntitanium=1, nbiopin=4), new bone surrounding the implant in the marrow cavity was minimal, while new bone at the junction of the cortex and the implant was increased. Conclusion: Osseointegration occured similarly around both titanium and polymer implants, and the presence of these implants appeared to stimulate new bone formation.

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